We can't help but admire the ambition of Hyundai here in the UK. Its cars are good, well equipped, come with epic warranties and most importantly sensible pricing. Which is why the press release proclaiming the arrival of an £80,000 luxury saloon had us looking at our calendar and expecting to see that April had come around again. It's no joke though, with Hyundai launching its Equus Limousine in long-wheelbase guise in its home market - and it costs the equivalent of £80k.

Fitted with a 394bhp 5.0-litre V8 engine, Hyundai claims that the Equus has the measure of its Lexus LS 460L and Mercedes-Benz S 500L rivals. Perhaps on power, but in the boardroom we imagine either set of keys will attract more cachet. However, the Equus owner can point to their powered rear footrest and laugh merrily at their colleagues need to move their feet themselves when sitting in the back.

There's even a bullet-proof version for paranoid businessmen, gangstas and Korea's President - who has three. It's unlikely the Hyundai Equus will ever be seen in UK showrooms, but we can't get the picture out of our minds of a pensioner being seduced by the scrappage offer and trading in an old smoker for an Equus - instead of the more usual i10...